The change in the unsteady characteristics of the water table above drain tubes resulting from their partial embedment in or proximity to an impervious substratum is studies in this paper. The case considered herein is that of draining a top-clay cap underlain by a impervious substratum by means of a system of equally spaced similar drain tubes. The experimental setup used in this study is a viscous flow model (Hele-Shaw) with medium base motor oil as flowing liquid. The results of large number of experimental runs considering various drain heights above an impervious substratum, various drain spacings and various heads are presented in the form of non-dimensional graphs. The results arc analysed and the effect of drain tube height above an impervious substratum on the time rate of depression of the water table is concluded for the cases of partial embedment and proximity as well.